Fisher retires from Predators after 18 seasons in NHL

37-year-old center rejoined team in February, was Nashville captain during run to 2017 Cup Final

Mike Fisher of the Nashville Predators retired from the NHL on Saturday after 18 seasons.

The 37-year-old center had four points (two goals, two assists) in 16 games with the Predators this season after signing a contract Feb. 26. He had one goal in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Fisher was captain of the Predators for the 2016-17 season before retiring in August after Nashville lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final.

"You don't want to be cleaning out your locker in May, there's no question," he said. "I had a great three months or whatever it was. I enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoyed coming to work with these guys. It was a great group of people, from the players to the whole organization and staff.

"I'm glad I came back. It was awesome. Obviously disappointing, but that's the way it goes sometimes. I know this team, they'll learn and grow and be better. There's a lot to look forward to."

Fisher did not play in a 5-1 loss in Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Winnipeg Jets because of a lower-body injury sustained in Game 6.

"It's just nerve-wracking really, a lot more when you're not playing," Fisher said. "It's kind of out of your control a little bit. But I know the guys worked so hard. That's just the way it goes sometimes. It's disappointing, but that's the way it's supposed to be I guess. You just move on."

Fisher, who is married to singer Carrie Underwood and lives in Nashville, said he might be open to remaining with the Predators in some capacity.

"We'll see. I'm sure we'll have some conversations in the future," he said. "Right now I don't really know what that's going to look like. But we'll see."

Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round (No. 44) of the 1998 NHL Draft, Fisher finished had 589 points (278 goals, 311 assists) in 1,104 NHL games with the Predators and Senators. He had 52 points (24 goals, 28 assists) in 146 Stanley Cup Playoff games and played in the Final with the Senators in 2007 and the Predators 10 years later.

The Predators acquired Fisher in a trade with the Senators on Feb. 10, 2011, for Nashville's first-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft and a third-round selection in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Fisher had six 20-goal seasons in the NHL. His best offensive season came with the Senators in 2009-10, when he finished with 25 goals and 53 points.

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